Periodontal Treatments

Identifying gum disease before it becomes a major issue and repairing damaged gum tissue with the latest techniques.

Treating Gum Disease

Nearly half of all American adults suffer from some form of gum disease. Once you’ve been diagnosed, there are several treatment options you can choose depending on the severity of the problem. We try to avoid doing invasive procedures, but in more serious cases surgery might be required.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Moderate gum disease can be treated with a cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. We use an ultrasonic cleaning device to remove plaque and tartar from under the gum line, on the tooth, and around the root. After that, we smooth out the rough surfaces of the tooth, making it easier for healthy gum tissue to reattach.

Surgical Treatment Options

If your gum disease went untreated for an extended period of time, the tissue and bone surrounding your teeth may be too damaged to repair with a simple scaling and root planing. Depending on your specific circumstances, we would recommend the following surgical treatment options:

Pocket Depth Reduction

Periodontal disease causes small pockets of space to open in the tissue surrounding the teeth. In this procedure, we peel back the gum tissue and remove plaque and bacteria hiding underneath. Then, we sew the healthy tissue back into place.

Regeneration

If your bone and tissue have been severely damaged by gum disease to the point of loss, we will do the same first step as a pocket depth reduction, but we will also perform a bone graft to stimulate new bone growth. Alternatively, we may apply a special protein that stimulates tissue growth.

Soft-Tissue Graft

This can be performed not only for gums damaged by disease but also for cosmetic purposes as well. We will take tissue from another part of your mouth and sew it into the gum area to cover the roots and restore your gum line.